The Best COMPOSITION Advice I’ve EVER HEARD!! Landscape Photography
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In this week’s episode, we discuss the best composition advice I’ve ever heard for landscape photography. When I first became interested in landscape photography I researched composition more than anything else. I felt that a better understanding of photo composition was the way to improve my photography the most in the shortest amount of time. I listened to every podcast, read every article and watched every video that I could find on the topic. And looking back on all the compositional tips and techniques and best practices, there's only one piece of advice that stands out to me that had the single largest impact on my landscape photography. But, what's most important about this piece of advice is not solely the advice itself, but rather why you want to do this that matters most.
In this video, I review the single most powerful piece of landscape photography advice I ever received. I was told this golden nugget of wisdom about five years ago, but I wasn't told exactly why I should do this and most importantly I wasn't told when I should do this - it was ultimately up to me to figure out the details. So I spent the next year trying to implement this new advice into my landscape photography compositional workflow and eventually I figured out all the many reasons why and situations when this advice applies best.
Composition is perhaps the single most important aspect of landscape photography and I hope you find this piece of compositional advice as powerful as I do and it makes a positive impact on your landscape photography moving forward.
If you enjoyed this video, please consider giving it a thumbs up and let me know what you think in the comments below - I guarantee I'll get back to ya.
Thanks for watching everyone!
-Mark D.
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What's the BEST photo advice you ever received?
Creativity is more important than technical knowledge.
TimMer1981 Oh I love that one!!
To stop zooming in on everything. The surroundings help tell the story, whether it is wildlife or landscapes.
Hard to say, but I agree that shooting from a different perspective is a great way to capture something fresh -- and shooting low is about the easiest. I heeded Brian Peterson's advice on this and began shooting low several years ago. Last summer, I even took it to the extreme and used his technique of lying on my back with my camera upside-down to get low enough for the shot I wanted. The sun was so bright I couldn't use the LCD screen.
Thanks for the tip about texture, one of those things I learned and forgot. I'll pay more attention now.
Keep it simple stupid and don't overthink the composition.
I had to pause this video at 1:00 because I actually said Yeah!! this is me in my current state. I've looked at so many rules and techniques that I get on a site and I don't even know what to photograph. I know what my subject is but then I start scrambling looking for lines and foreground and depth and color and this and that.....
How true this is!!
The best advice for abstract photography is “get high”
😂😂
Lol
This isnt even untrue :D
The other day I was shooting in the fog on a boardwalk that goes through a marsh. Eventually I decided to stand on the railing of the boardwalk and I was able to show how the boardwalk disappeared into the fog and it gave the shot more depth. So occasionally, getting high can really help. The shot reminded me of of the scene in the movie "the African Queen". Humphrey Bogart was meandering through the marsh trying to get his boat to the open water. To show how daunting the the trek through the marsh was the camera started out low and was slowly raised to reveal the massive size of the marsh. It was at that point the viewer could see what Bogart could not, he was so close to the open sea and had no idea because he was low in the marsh. So, the moral of the story is don't Bogart the perspective. 🤣
One time I was drilled on the use of DMX for studio lighting, and I thought they said DXM.
Compose in layers is in my opinion the best advice.
Great advice!
Totally agree, getting low works really good in most of the occasions.
Totally agree with this. Getting low improved things for me quite a bit.
I love your videos cuz you don't hide anything from us. You share and spread everything you know. Thanks Mark!
I love the way you lighted the room you're sitting in .. just a pleasure to look at. Because you took care to make your room a treat for the eyes, it reflects the beauty that shows up in your photo work.
Loved the point on using the distortion in a wide angle lens. I had stopped using my wide angles because of it but hadnt considered using it artfully
Best photo advice: Look at art books, go to art galleries and get the "eye" for composition.
Thanks. You save me 16 minutes. I don't get why these simple tips have to be too long!
@@ehaitem firstly it is called human interaction, although this is over a digital medium.
Secondly, in that "long period" of "nothingness" there are many little pieces of gold nuggets.
Thirdly, there always come some personal part of the "story teller" to the serface, and that creates a connection.
And so many more things.
Do you make love just for the climax?
@@LeonKotze70
You forgot the fact that TH-cam pays more for 10-15 minuts videos. Content creators stretch their videos for this reason. A 2 minutes videos does not generate income. Follow the money. Get a clue. Stop making analogies that have nothing to do with the original argument. I make love to make love, and i watch youtube to learn, not to get "human interaction".
@@ehaitem I agree with you, but just an fyi the original comment wasnt his advice in the video it was getting low...He then followed up with reasons and example. Such as getting details... I would suggest you speed up the video to x2 if you dont want to spend the 16 min.
@@ehaitem if you would've taken the 16 Minutes, you would've known that he didn't stretch ;)
But ... Yeah, I do feel you. Someone has to actually take time and appreciate good content - so ... May you grow up with this in mind.
Also, you do state things you cannot really prove (sure, you can prove that some TH-camr do this, but you simply cannot prove it for all). Also, Trey has said something completely different than what was said in the video (again, if you would've taken the two minutes, you would've known). And on top, you would've known that there was more than just one tip following with an example and showing it on the exact example.
And if you're not here for the "human interaction" and just for learning, maybe YT is not the right place for you?
Especially not TH-camr who clearly have a community and want to engage with it.
I mean, sure, if you wanna "get the eye" for composition you can follow Trey's advice or brute force your way to it... But for some people it's just not the way to get a feeling for that - also, if you're doing it Trey's way, you're likely to fall into the trap of re-taking images that are taken all the time (so, you just go out and re-capture other people's art instead of improving on your own).
Watched this simple piece of advice yesterday & tried it out today..love it, what a difference. Thanks.
Great to hear it George!
You just blew my freaking mind. Best thing I learned was not just rules of third but where that came from and all the different patterns. And now with this, my pictures are going to be amazing. Thank you for sharing.
Dirt Diggler Metal Detecting Glad to do it and happy to hear to enjoyed it!
Hey Mark, another great video! Very informative especially breaking it down. That is one of the best things you do! In my experience, I sort of, did these techniques, but not having a clue that I was or why. LOL. Now that we have these tools, this will help a lot. Funny how you said to get low. Well I am also a drone photographer. To get a reflection of the clouds in the lake one day, I had to get VERY high. Like 395 feet. Turned out to be one of my best. That said, however, I never would have thought that getting low like you just taught us would be SO effective. Bad weather today, cannot wait to go out and put this to use. Thanks again Mark
“The more I researched composition, the worse my composition got” or the more I sturggle with it. Thank you for that video. Exactly my case! I think it is the experience that helps you choosing the right tool in the right situation. So I think besides get low, I would say get out, shoot and watch the pictures afterwards.
The power of a different perspective! We get so stuck at 'eye' level but whether we get down on the ground or just crouch down (as low as our knees will let us go :-) ) opens a whole new world. Love the foreground tips with a wide angle. I think of all the years of taking photos, with a crop sensor (Canon 70D) and not really understanding my wide angle wasn't really wide angle. Aargh. I'm looking forward to getting out and really exploring what I can do with a wide angle. loooow to the ground. Thank you
Thank you so much. I went back to find your video as I took your advice on getting low and took pics from eye, hip, and below knee positions and this video is really changed my photography results
Another great advice and wonderful presentation. You are now my favorite TH-camr. Your presentations are calm, well-structured and without gimmicks.
I agree wholeheartedly. I know people that are so intent on perfecting the rule of thirds, leading lines etc, that they forget about composing and you are absolutely correct, getting down low does it.
Thanks for checking out the video John!
Very useful tips for enhancing photography - "get low" and "when to". Thanks Mark, love your crisp content.
Thanks so much!
Loved the video. No crazy antics, just the facts! That’s what I needed the most! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
This is also very true for both sports and wildlife photography, but with wildlife it's more important to get to "eye level" than just low. However with sports, getting low is great for creating that heroic character aspect to a big play or certain athlete, like the the quarterback in football or a diving goalie in soccer. I'm often one of the only photographers at certain events getting either low, or changing my background by moving a few feet to the left or right of where the other shooters are. People often ask me for tips and these are definitely a couple of the big ones. With wildlife it's often best to be at eye-level, but if you have to it's better to be low than be above the animal.
Thank you so much. That is exactly what happened to me with my landscape photography. I used to just got out and snap away but the more I learn (going through exactly the same process) the more I blank out. Thank you for this tip ... awesome. I can’t wait to get out there and try it. I love your videos Mark, thank you again.
Thanks so much - really appreciate that!
The composition of your talk-to-the-camera videos is dope. I realised it long ago. It looks like a cosy room in a warm house in the middle of the woods in cold winter. A nice place in a children's story.
Thanks Albert! Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you Mark for all of the time that you put into making your videos! Your channel is fun to watch and extremely informative!!!!
Kyle Gifford Really appreciate that Kyle!
Hey Mark, really appreciate all the examples you provide! It helps visualize each piece of info
Anthony Savarese Really glad to hear it! Thanks Anthony!
Mark, this was my first viewing of one of your videos, I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation and order of learning. And yes I learned ‘The Landscape Five, Bring it Alive’ 👏👍, thanks Mark.
Thanks for checking out the video Andrew!
Mark! This video not only contains marvelous landscape photography but very powerful description, it's really very impressive. Congrats on such a nice work.
I found that getting low is the best advice I've received. I use it all the time.
Thanks for this, especially your admission that you just didn't know what to do with all of that composition adivce when you tried to put it into practice. I can relate to *exactly* the same thing and took it as a sign that I'm just never going to 'get it'. Well, maybe I won't(!) but maybe there's still hope for me if you had that same experience. I will use this advice next time I go out with my camera and tripod and see if something clicks over time and lots of exposures. Also, I love your calm and soft-spoken presentation and I'm very glad I found your channel.
I have to say it again, but when I watch your videos it feels like you're reading my mind or we've walked in the same footsteps. As a very analytical person who struggles with composition, I too tried to consume everything about it and became overwhelmed. I enjoyed your suggestion about getting low and have actually used it to some success so I know what you're talking about. I did have a funny photo experience once. I was on the Oregon coast and I saw a weather beaten piece of driftwood in the sand. The wind had created an interesting pattern around it so I got down low and placed it in the foreground of my image. I got back home and was processing the photo when I noticed something. Zooming in on the driftwood I realized it wasn't what it first appeared. When I really got a good look at it I realized that it was a potato left over from someone's beach barbecue. It had been sitting out for so long and was worn by the weather that I thought it was a piece of wood. The image was ok but when I remember that it was a potato, I always get a laugh.
One thing that helps me with my composition is to just try one thing. For example, take leading lines. If I go out in the field and spend the whole day just trying to make compositions with leading lines I tend to get into a groove and it sticks a bit better. If I do this for different things, but only one at a time, I realize that they then become tools that I can more easily select from when trying to compose a new image. Just like anything though, it takes practice and if you don't use it, you need to go back and refresh your training.
Great video Mark. The best advice I got about composition was to learn them all, then, learn how to break them all.
Thanks for the video Mark. Great shots/examples. I did much the same thing as you when I started landscape photography. I work as a studio photographer/graphic designer. When I started taking landscape shots, I became fascinated with applying graphic design principles of composition to my photos. I studied and studied. The first time I used an ultra wide angle... wow, I was just thrilled at this tool. Most people take photos at head height. It's so important to explore different points of view. Getting low is so important. Thanks Mark.
Glad to do it Peter and many thanks to you for checking it out!
This is a nice video addressing composition and although I agree that getting low can sometimes lead to a stronger image with your five reasons in mind, I find a higher perspective works better in many situations, especially for separation of elements and capturing reflections. I feel the five examples you gave could have been presented with “Five reasons you need to move around before you take the shot.” Thank you for emphasizing composition in your videos, well done.
Another great video Mark, I always enjoy you content , your pointers and advice have been a great resource for improving my photography 👊🏼 🙏🏻
This is great to hear Matt - thanks for letting me know!
Have to say.. I follow a lot of photographers on YT.. but I by far learn the most from your channel... keep up the great work!! Keep em’ coming !!!
Thanks Brian! Great to hear it!
I watched the video twice not because it wasnt clear because it was soo imformative I dont want to miss anything. As always, I love your style of videos. again, pictures are simply beautful . take care
Many thanks to you - really appreciate it!
Great video my friend. Sitting here in quarantine, I was eager to watch this. Next week, when I'm no longer stuck at home - I'm getting out there and really putting in some work. This is helpful. Typically getting low is something I do. However, I never really paid much attention to textures. I'm definitely going to add that to my workflow when shooting photos. Hope you are well, and stay healthy! See you next week!
Thanks Erick! Hope you’re doing good as well!
This video makes me love the landscape photography again! Thanks
Great examples of this concept! The best advice I've ever been given was to pay attention to how the light hits your subject. That will determine how you photograph it.
Thanks Phillip! Appreciate you sharing that great advice as well!
An excellent reminder Mark. Time to go back through my library and see where I have used this and to what effect.
I belive the "grass" in the foreground of your Corona Arch image is actually the Mormon Tea plant (Ephedra sp.) Not trying to pick nits as much as educate, since you have been kind enough to try to educate me on landscape photography. This video was a good topic, well done.
Go Low - my new mantra but conditioned on these old knees. Tks Mark great lesson.
Thank you for this and several other of your videos. You explain things so well for me to understand. This particular video really taught me a lot about composition and allowed me to easily see what I have done wrong in past photos. It is very helpful and I'll be subscribing and viewing more.
My favourite photography channel on TH-cam. I am not into a landscape photography to be honest, but the way Mark giving information is top-notch. No disturbing intros- straight to the subject. Maximum useful information per certain amount of time. Very clean english pronunciation which is attractive to the ear (especially for us - non-native english speakers). He paid so much attention even to the background (just look at those shelfs and lights and shadows behind him). Amazing approach. Thank you!
Great to hear you enjoyed it!
Excellent advise and compliments similar advise given by William Patino on using a wide angle lens in landscape photography where he talks about not just getting low but pointing the camera down to use the natural distortion in wide angle lens to not only exaggerate the foreground but also higher details in the background. I had watched it this morning and your video helps bring it all together.
I started photographing about 5 years ago. I regularly go back to the old hard drives and it really shows how much I have improved but nothing compares to how much my game has changed since I found your channel. I had a vague idea of what composition but never really understood the concept of it, the rules of it. But your videos were an eye-opening for me, especially when you explain depth. Great video as always, Mark.
S133S This is music to my ears! Many thanks for taking the time to let me know!’
Excellent, clear, and intuitive advice. For a notch over beginner, this was beautifully presented. Thanks so much for this.
What a perfect colored video! Love seeing a well lit up studio and color corrected right
Thanks so much! Glad to see it was noticeable!
Another wonderful Video Mark!! Great advice.
Thanks Vito!
Well done Mark! ... It is so ironic as your description of how to handle all of the rules and making sure you apply them correctly can sometimes draw a blank when you finally arrive at the location you want to capture. I am not sure why, but I started to shoot from a lower point of view recently and ever since, I think my landscape work has improved significantly.
Then, I come across your video. I really like the way you detail out the best reasons WHY to shoot low as I have been struggling with landscape work for year.
Thanks for the information and for the inspiration.
Your videos great! I'm just approaching photography since a few months and you have been really helpful understanding the basis and the technique. Keep going!
Thanks so much!
Hi Mark, its been very informative on composition. Its different than we usually otherwise see on internet. I really feel like tips are truly coming out of your experiences and learning. thanks for the great and engaging content.
Thanks so much! Glad to hear the videos are helpful!
So enjoyed this! Thanks, Mark!
Don Hendricks Thank you Don!
My underwater shots are always better when I get low. Sometimes more difficult to do, but almost always pays off. Thanks Mark.
I watched this video and took the advice seriously. After revisiting a location where I was disappointed with the image I was able to capture I thought about what was in front of me, found a couple of rocks to use as foreground, got down and close and my goodness, what a change. More practice required for sure but I now feel that I am on the right track. Great advice and so glad I found this.
Thanks so much Iain!
Love this fantastic advice and as always, another wonderful video. Thank you Mark!
Alex Solon Thanks Alex!!
Thank you Mark, a lot ! I started with photography 2 years ago and you are such a great inspiration for me. Many steps I took forward I did thanks to you. I always look forward to your next video. All the best, cheers ! :)
This is great to hear - thank you!
Best advice I got from a mentor photographer and friend was to let myself get consumed/absorbed by my subject... I remember being fascinated with waves creating patterns of bubbles on the shore. Yes, I was low. The cool patterns kept coming and changing and I was completely absorbed taking photos... then realized I had been doing this for almost 3 hours. Time flew while I was having fun and the results were amazing. Thank you for sharing you very useful tips on getting low. Best!
Always happy to do it and thanks for sharing your story - thats great!
Liked this one. It’s something I’ve been trying to do more. It would have been nice to see some side by sides to showcase the difference.
Great video and information, Mark! I think that getting low and close goes hand and hand with focus stacking. Thanks for creating a sort of series!
Cheers!
Glad to do it and thanks for checking out the video!
Great stuff! Yes, depth; which also presents MULTIPLE subjects. Many subjects, a primary and significant secondary subjects. Not merely "elements".
Thanks Matt! Glad ya enjoyed it!
Fantastic! I am loving your videos. Exactly what I am needing on my learning journey. Thank you from Australia 😁
Thanks always for the great tips and inspiration to get out there!
Thank you as always for the advise and the way you explained it.
Hi Mark,
I know how much I appreciated positive feedback and I think you really deserve some!
I only discovered you recently, forgot your name but was so impressed by what I had seen that I searched for you for days before I rediscovered you.
I started photography at the age of 9 with my dad’s Zeiss icon which did not have a light meter or focusing mechanism. I therefore had to judge/measure the distance, decide on a shutter speed and aperture. I could only afford one postcard size black and white film, with 6 exposures, per week. I therefore got to know the basics really well. I am now 77 years of age and have always been a keen photographer, as a university student I even operated as a professional photographer.
Your presentation has been the best by a margin: I have learnt a lot from you and on the occasions that I don’t learn anything new, it reinforces principles and makes me think more analytically.
Thank you!
Willem von Willich (South Africa)
Thank so much for the amazing comment Willem! Yes, positive feedback feels amazing so a big thanks to you friend for that!
Also, I use a super wide angle a lot in my photography and the best advice I heard for that situation is to "get close to your focal point" it's tempting to just show everything you can with a super wide lens (sometimes this works) but sometimes you just need to get very close to a part of the composition.
Loved this Mark. Thanks for imparting your pearls of wisdom again.
Thanks for watching it Harry!
Thank you Mark!! Once again - great video, very useful, educational. You are geting better and better (as a lectuer) and giving more and more useful tips.
This is interesting, your intro statement is how I feel when I take photos. I think maybe I didn't watch enough how to videos. I will apply this new advice!
Thanks for sharing your experience and for your work creating the videos Mark! Another reason for getting low is that it is not the normal viewpoint / perspective so it adds some additional interest for the viewer
Thank you Wayne! That’s another great point!
Get low or get high is what I listened to...having a tall tripod with no centre column so I can get it really low or higher than my eye level if I want is really useful and gives different perspectives to what people normally see. The other advice I picked up is there are no absolute rules in photography!! :-)
So maturely presented!! Thanks..superlative work
Great video and advice. Thank you. Your own personal experiences helped to fully understand.
Love this video!
Ironically, I just bought a stubby 5" center column for my tripod this morning.
Thank you so much Mark, great video.
Great tutorial on composition Mark. Will keep this advice at the top of my composition rules.
Many thanks John!
Your videos are soooo great! They help so much
Great to hear - thank you!
This was awesome and make great sense !!! loved it I have always been an Equine sports photographer .. This was so educational added all the 5 things in my Take with a notebook, for the next waterfall shoot. Thank you..
Mark, you inspire me in so many ways!
Thanks so much Dinesh!
Excellent lesson, well explained! Much appreciated.
Thanks Gray!
Mark, thanks for sharing. Another one to add into the library I have of keepers.
Always happy to do it Dave and many thanks to you for checking out this weeks video!
Hey, what a great video. Keep up the good work! I look forward to your next video.
I really love your channel man....your tips helped me a lot....thank you!!
Great video about the composition! I love IT
Andrea Zindoni Thanks Andrea! Glad you enjoyed it👍
Your videos are always full of information. Thank you again for the great work...!!!
Thanks so much!
Another awesome video ! Thank you and I’ll definitely be putting this to practice👍
Many thanks Kim!
Wow, thanks, best advice ever. cant wait to go out and try this. thank you so much for sharing.
Thanks so much Lynn!
Good point - interestingly, as a viewer, in many cases it's not obvious that the viewpoint is low as opposed to the camera being tilted down. It would be interesting to compare some shots of the same view with images taken at different heights. Also, would be interested to know if you are focus stacking these images to get sharpness throughout the depth or just using small apertures.
Hey Mark. Great video as usual! You keep raising the bar and continue to set higher standards with your videos. And we subscribers are all the better for it.
In the last image on tip #1 (“softball” cactus in the foreground), did you use focus stacking when you took that photo. Notwithstanding that, what is your advice on combining focus stacking with your advice on getting low?
Thanks for your help and we certainly do appreciate your videos.
Thanks David! Really appreciate that! I always try to get the photo in one shot bu tin that example the cactus was so close to my lens that I had to focus stack it.
Advice #5 is a really good one, I never had think about it, I will try next time!
Armando Luiz - Landscape Photography Glad to heat you were able to get some useful info out of this weeks video!
Great tips Mark. Makes me rethink how awful of a photographer i am because without knowing it, I have been following your "texture" advice the whole time. thanks
Hahah! I've been there before as well - didn't even realized I was doing something until almost a year had past!
Whoosh, I being wanting to shoot landscape photography, but was not sure where to start. This is awesome advise.
Thanks Juan!
The platypod is great for getting low. Great information, thank you Mark!
I'm going to have check one of those out!
Loads of great tips and advice mate ✌🏻
Great advice! Getting low (or lower than eye level) is often more impactful just for the fact that it's a different view than what most people see. Although the older I get the harder to get REAL low! LOL I really need one of those cameras with the flippy screen. Thanks for the video Mark!
Always happy to do it Barbara! Hope you’re doing well!
A great and very impactful video! Thank you!
Hey, what a great video. Keep up the superb work! I look forward to your next video.
Stephen Milner Much appreciated Stephen - thank you!
Bonus points for the Sony Sports Walkman on the desk.
Great video Mark! Have been looking at new cameras to aid in "getting low" need one of those flip up screens lol....I can get down okay, just can't get back up! I enjoy your videos!
“The more I researched composition, the worse my composition got” Analysis paralysis. I can relate! “Find your focal point and get low.” + situations where it works best - I keep forgetting. Very helpful video as always. Thanks.
Michele Bullock Awesome to hear - thanks Michele!